White and his co-driver uncle John White guided their powerful Dodge Viper to a 17 second outright lead after the opening five stages of competition on challenging roads around the Atherton Tablelands.

The seven-times Targa Tasmania winners managed to squeeze out the advantage from the smaller V6-powered Lotus Exige driven by accomplished Queenslander Paul Stokell and his new co-driver Malcolm Read.

“As expected Gillies Range wasn’t so suited to what we thought but we were very happy with the speed going up there,” Jason White said.

“The car inside in the cabin and the tyres in the heat; everything was out of its comfort zone from what we’ve encountered before.

“Back down the hill nearly everyone has got a 1000bhp so obviously the Lotus got a bit of a run back at us.

“All said we were really happy with our run up Copperlode Dam. It was well beyond our expectations because that was where we thought the Lotus would be hunting.

“We didn’t have too many scary moments but it was certainly an enjoyable ride up and down the tight and twisty track.”

Jeff Morton and Cameron Reeves remain in close attendance back in third place, 36 seconds off the lead.

White, Stokell and Morton are the top three in GT2 as well.

Michael and Daniel Bray went on the attack in their powerful 1975 Holden Torana to lead the way in Shannons Classic GT. The Brays hold a 37 second lead over Daniel and Kristy Callinan (Holden Commodore).

A late incident saw the 1972 DeTomaso Pantera of Keith and Mary Anne Callinan drop out of second place.

Following the early demise of the 1941 Jimmys Special driven by Graham Copeland and Josh Herbert, Ashley Yelds and Charlie Hughes have seen their 1961 Volvo 122S head the Shannons Classic handicap standings.

Leigh Achterberg and Greg Fitzgerald are only 14 seconds back in second in their 1982 Porsche 994.

Mark Balcombe and Brian Foster in the 2011 Nissan GTR lead GT4 by 24 seconds from Nathan and Nicolas Stokes in their Subaru STI.

Tony Quinn and Kate Catford (2001 Porsche 996 Turbo) hold the lead in the Dutton Garage Early Modern from the 1995 Nissan Skyline GTR of Liam and Larry Howarth. Quinn enjoys a 32 second advantage and sits in fifth outright.